Applications for Class of '79 Decline By Several Hundred

L. Fred Jewett '57, dean of Harvard admissions, said yesterday that applications for the Harvard class of 1979 have surged in the past two weeks and now total only several hundred less than the usual number.

Jewett told an alumni group January 11 applications this year were running 10 per cent behind last year's rate.

"At that time," Jewett said yesterday, "we were quite concerned, but we have since received a large number of applications mailed just before the [January 1] deadline."

Alberta Arthurs, dean of Radcliffe admissions, said yesterday Radcliffe applications are also slightly off from last year, but added, "Our deadline is two weeks later so we're still receiving some now."

"On a day-to-day basis, applications are running far behind," Arthurs said, "but we've had amazing surges just before the December 15 and January 15 deadlines."

Both Arthurs and Jewett said they had expected decreases in the number of applications as a result of the economy, but both said the actual declines were less than expected.

Jewett said approximately the same percentage of applicants are asking for financial aid, but the office will not know whether individuals are asking for more assistance until the class is admitted. "I am concerned that there may have been a decline in the number of middle- and lower-income applicants," Jewett said, "but I won't have a definite idea until the applications are processed."

Arthurs said Radcliffe financial aid applications have decreased this year, but added, "Financial aid applications tend to come in later, so we probably haven't received many of them yet."

Seamus P. Malin '62, director of financial aid, said yesterday he did not know whether more money would be allocated by the faculty for financial aid, but added, "We've been lucky in getting several large bequests." However, corporation and alumni gifts are less than usual, Malin said.

Dean Rosovsky said yesterday he planned "no drastic changes" in the number of men and women in the class of 1979, but said he was encouraged by the number of applications.